Psalms 147:6

147:6 The Lord lifts up the oppressed,

but knocks ¹  the wicked to the ground.

Psalms 149:4

149:4 For the Lord takes delight in his people;

he exalts the oppressed by delivering them. ² 

Matthew 5:5

5:5 “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

Matthew 11:29

11:29 Take my yoke ³  on you and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Matthew 21:5

21:5 “Tell the people of Zion, ⁴ 

‘Look, your king is coming to you,

unassuming and seated on a donkey,

and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’” ⁵ 

Matthew 21:2

21:2 telling them, “Go to the village ahead of you. ⁶  Right away you will find a donkey tied there, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me.

Colossians 1:1

Salutation

1:1 From Paul, ⁷  an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

Colossians 1:1

Salutation

1:1 From Paul, ⁸  an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

Colossians 2:7

2:7 rooted ⁹  and built up in him and firm ¹⁰  in your ¹¹  faith just as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

James 3:13

True Wisdom

3:13 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct he should show his works done in the gentleness that wisdom brings. ¹² 

James 3:1

The Power of the Tongue

3:1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, ¹³  because you know that we will be judged more strictly. ¹⁴ 

James 3:4

3:4 Look at ships too: Though they are so large and driven by harsh winds, they are steered by a tiny rudder wherever the pilot’s inclination directs.

[147:6]  ¹ tn Heb “brings down.”

[149:4]  ² tn Heb “he honors the oppressed [with] deliverance.”

[11:29]  ³ sn A yoke is a wooden bar or frame that joins two animals like oxen or horses so that they can pull a wagon, plow, etc. together. Here it is used figuratively of the restrictions that a teacher or rabbi would place on his followers.

[21:5]  ⁴ tn Grk “Tell the daughter of Zion” (the phrase “daughter of Zion” is an idiom for the inhabitants of Jerusalem: “people of Zion”). The idiom “daughter of Zion” has been translated as “people of Zion” because the original idiom, while firmly embedded in the Christian tradition, is not understandable to most modern English readers.

[21:5]  ⁵ tn Grk “the foal of an animal under the yoke,” i.e., a hard-working animal. This is a quotation from Zech 9:9.

[21:2]  ⁶ tn Grk “the village lying before you” (BDAG 530 s.v. κατέναντι 2.b).

[1:1]  ⁷ tn Grk “Paul.” The word “from” is not in the Greek text, but has been supplied to indicate the sender of the letter.

[1:1]  ⁸ tn Grk “Paul.” The word “from” is not in the Greek text, but has been supplied to indicate the sender of the letter.

[2:7]  ⁹ tn Or “having been rooted.”

[2:7]  ¹⁰ sn The three participles rooted, built up, and firm belong together and reflect three different metaphors. The first participle “rooted” (perfect tense) indicates a settled condition on the part of the Colossian believers and refers to horticulture. The second participle “built up” (present passive) comes from the world of architecture. The third participle “firm [established]” (present passive) comes from the law courts. With these three metaphors (as well as the following comment on thankfulness) Paul explains what he means when he commands them to continue to live their lives in Christ. The use of the passive probably reflects God’s activity among them. It was he who had rooted them, had been building them up, and had established them in the faith (cf. 1 Cor 3:5-15 for the use of mixed metaphors).

[2:7]  ¹¹ tn The Greek text has the article τῇ (th), not the possessive pronoun ὑμῶν (Jumwn), but the article often functions as a possessive pronoun and was translated as such here (ExSyn 215).

[3:13]  ¹² tn Grk “works in the gentleness of wisdom.”

[3:1]  ¹³ tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:2.

[3:1]  ¹⁴ tn Grk “will receive a greater judgment.”